FAIRNESS IS THE SOUL OF THE GOOD ….doc

LIGHT AND NOT SHADOW OVER HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA FAIRNESS IS THE SOUL OF GOOD ADMINISTRATION OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA ANNUAL REPORT 2008 ANNUAL REPORT 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction CHAPTER ONE CITIZENS’ RIGHTS AND THE AUTHORITIES – SOME ALARMING PROBLEMS AND TENDENCIES SECTION 1 Summarised Findings and Conclusions SECTION 2 Some Principle Ideas about the Citizens’ Rights Which the Authorities Must Take into Account CHAPTER TWO GOOD GOVERNANCE OF MUNICIPALITIES – RESPECT FOR THE CITIZENS’ RIGHTS WHERE THEY LIVE SECTION 1 Citizens’ Rights, Good Governance and Local Authorities SECTION 2 Good Governance in the Local Authorities – From Popularisation to Control of Implementation SECTION 3 Ombudsman’s Findings about the Level of Good Governance in the Local Authorities SECTION 4 Interaction of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria with the Local Public Mediators SECTION 5 Support for the Local Authorities – The Ombudsman’s Constant Priority CHAPTER THREE INFLUENCE OF THE OMBUDSMAN ON THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE CITIZENS’ RIGHTS SECTION 1 Active Participation in the Legislative Process SECTION 2 Interference of the Ombudsman in Cases Found of Abuse of the Citizens’ Rights through Legislative Provisions CHAPTER FOUR PATIENTS – DOWN THE ROAD OF THEIR RIGHTS OR THE COBBLESTONES OF CLINICAL PATHWAYS CHAPTER FIVE THE CONSUMERS – EQUAL OR SUBJECT TO AUTHORITIES AND COMPANIES CHAPTER SIX INDEPENDENT CONTROL OF THE OMBUDSMAN OVER THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM CHAPTER SEVEN THE MILK PRODUCERS – THEIR RIGHTS ARE ABUSED WHILE THEY ARE CAPTIVES OF BAD ADMINISTRATION INTRODUCTION The year 2008 marked sixty years of the United National Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948. This significant act was born in the time when the wounds of the World Wars past were still living and hurting in the world. It is a symbol of the unconditional will that the human rights will never again be subordinated or abu